COVID-19 Daily News Digest – May 22, 2020
RCMP charge 8 people for breaking non-essential travel ban to northern Manitoba
Non-essential travel north of the 53rd parallel of latitude, and to remote communities in Manitoba that are not connected to the provincial highway system, is currently prohibited under current public health orders.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the individuals told officers they were visiting friends and family in the Thompson area.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/covid-19-public-health-order-warnings-1.5575468
PM to offer Indigenous people in Canada more COVID-19 assistance
The money is expected to be offered to Indigenous people living off-reserve and is set to include funding for community-based projects such as those aimed at providing access to food, transportation, educational materials or mental health services.
As has been the case with several recent announcements, however, the details of where the funding will go or who will qualify could take time to be sorted out.
Letters: COVID-19 crisis is partly a water crisis
For many decades the Nation has been involved in litigating its water rights to the rivers that run through Navajoland, even though since 1908 U.S. law has recognized that indigenous Americans have priority water rights over all others. There still must be litigation to decide how much water the Navajo Nation is entitled to
Off-reserve Indigenous services to receive $75M boost amid coronavirus pandemic
“Indigenous community organizations in our cities and off-reserve do crucial work year-round, but these days their services are in high demand because of the pandemic. We need to make sure they have the resources to adapt and grow their services so they can fulfil their important mission,” he said.
Indigenous refugees battle Coronavirus in Latin America
There are almost 5,000 indigenous Venezuelans displaced in Brazil, mainly from the Warao ethnic group, but also from the Eñapa, Kariña, Pemon and Ye’kwana communities. With COVID-19 hitting this Amazon region hard and Brazil emerging as an epicenter of the pandemic, UNHCR is worried that many may struggle without adequate health and sanitation conditions.
Brazil’s remote tribes in Amazon turn to tree bark and honey to treat coronavirus
“In a period of enormous uncertainty like during this pandemic, people will always look for what they have known before and traditional medicine will offer,” said Michael Heinrich, a professor of Ethnopharmacology at University College London.
Marilyn Slett: Post-COVID-19 ‘new normal’ must not leave First Nations behind
We ask that B.C. and Canada make it a priority to work with First Nations to ensure that in the “new normal” all this good work is not lost. We ask that they see the “re-opening” of B.C. as a time to re-envision new ways of doing business. Thriving First Nation economies benefit not only our communities but the province and Canada as well.
Support Native Language Center to Help Fight COVID-19
“We have been working hard to shine a light on the disproportionate amounts of violence experienced by Indigenous women across the U.S. But as we continue our work to make right those inequities, it is equally important that we recognize the great accomplishments, heritage, culture, and contributions of Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian women,” said Murkowski.
https://www.languagemagazine.com/2020/05/21/support-native-language-center-to-help-fight-covid-19/
Measures to stop spread of COVID-19 in First Nations limited by lack of infrastructure: report
“Asking people to wash their hands and isolate in overcrowded homes without running water is like asking people unable to afford bread to eat cake,” reads the report, released Wednesday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/covid-19-manitoba-first-nations-risk-let-them-eat-cake-1.5578448
COVID-19 Is Devastating World’s Indigenous Communities Beyond the Immediate Health Threat
Calling on countries to protect indigenous communities, Tzay encouraged governments around the world to create initiatives that ensure indigenous peoples are treated fairly and equally under the law.
He also urged countries to distribute information about COVID-19 to indigenous communities in their languages, noting that governments need to also provide medical services that are more culturally appropriate to the needs of indigenous peoples.
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/covid-19-is-devastating-indigenous-communities/
Liard First Nation postpones election because of COVID-19 pandemic
In his letter, Morgan says the Liard First Nation election will go ahead “when we can be assured that the risk to LFN citizens, and in particular our elders, has been sufficiently minimized.”
“The timing of our election should be a wise and thoughtful decision that does not risk harm to our people.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/liard-first-nation-election-postpone-1.5579220